Expandable TFE copolymers, method of making, porous, expanded article thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9593223-B2
Application number	US-201514883772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2015
Priority date	Oct 4, 2007
Publication date	Mar 14, 2017
Grant date	Mar 14, 2017

Abstract

A true tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymer of the fine powder type is provided, wherein the copolymer contains polymerized comonomer units of at least one comonomer other than TFE in concentrations of at least or exceeding 1.0 weight percent, and which can exceed 5.0 weight percent, wherein the copolymer is expandable, that is, the copolymer may be expanded to produce strong, useful, expanded TFE copolymeric articles having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils. Articles made from the expandable copolymer may include tapes, membranes, films, fibers, and are suitable in a variety of end applications, including medical devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical device comprising:
an expanded core-shell tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymer comprising:
(a) a first, core portion comprising a polymer chain of TFE monomers and at least one other comonomer comprising a perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether monomer; and
(b) a second, shell portion consisting of a polymer chain consisting of TFE monomers,

wherein said expanded core-shell tetrafluoroethylene copolymer comprises at least 3.0% by weight polymerized units of said at least one other comonomer based on total weight of said copolymer,
wherein said copolymer exhibits adhesion after subjecting the copolymer to its first melt temperature or above.

2. The medical device of claim 1 in the form of an implantable medical device.

3. The medical device of claim 1 in the form of a vascular graft.

4. The medical device of claim 1 in the form of an endoluminal prosthesis.

5. The medical device of claim 1 , having a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction exceeding 13,000 psi.

6. The medical device of claim 5 having a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction exceeding 15,000 psi.

7. The medical device of claim 5 having a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction exceeding 25,000 psi.

8. The medical device of claim 5 having a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction exceeding 30,000 psi.

9. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein said perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether is selected from the group consisting of PMVE, PEVE and PPVE.

10. The medical device of claim 1 , including more than one other comonomer.

Assignees

• Gore & Ass

Inventors

• Ford Lawrence A

Classifications

• Y10T428/1376

  Foam or porous material containing · CPC title

• C08J9/16 Primary

  Making expandable particles · CPC title

• A61L31/048

  obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds (A61L31/041 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C08J2207/02

  Adhesive · CPC title

• C08F214/26 Primary

  Tetrafluoroethene · CPC title